Automatic massage air cushion

ABSTRACT

An automatic massage air cushion comprises a cover having a plurality of receptacle channels arranged in parallel for housing a set of first gasbags and a set of second gasbags, which first and second gasbags are alternatively arranged along each of the receptacle channels. The first gasbags are connected by a first air pipe system, and the second gasbags are connected by a second air pipe system. The first air pipe system is converged to an external first air inlet, and the second air pipe system is converged to an external second air inlet, both inlets being connected to an air pump. Thereby,, the air pump alternatively inflates one of the gasbag sets, whereas the other set is shrunk, activating alternatively up and down motions at the locations on the cushion under which those gasbags situate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to automatic massage air cushions, more particularly to an automatic massage air cushion comprising a cover, a set of first gasbags and a set of second gasbags. The cover contains a plurality of receptacle channels arranged in parallel, each of which houses alternatively arranged first gasbags and second gasbags. The first gasbags are connected by a first air pipe system, and the second gasbags are connected by a second air pipe system. The first air pipe system is converged to an external first air inlet, and the second air pipe system is converged to an external second air inlet, both inlets being connected to an air pump. Thereby, the air pump alternatively inflates one of the gasbag sets, whereas the other set is shrunk, activating alternatively up and down motions at the locations on the cushion under which those gasbags situate. The motion of the surface of the cushion enables a massage effect on a person laid thereon, which is an effective point-wise massage.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Referring to FIG. 1, an automatic massage air cushion of the prior art comprises two sets of air-filled columns 10, 11, which are arranged alternatively and in parallel. Two sets of air-filled columns 10, 11 are respectively connected by air pipes 12, 13, whereby an external air pump can inject gas into the air-filled columns 10, 11 through air inlets 14, 15. Referring to FIG. 2 and 3, the air pump firstly injects air into air inlet 14 so as to inflate air columns 10, whereas air columns 11 are flat. The pump then injects air into air inlet 15 so as to inflate air columns 11, whereas air columns 11 are urged to release air and become flat simultaneously. Alternative inflating two sets of air columns 10, 11 results in a periodic and alternative up and down motion over the top surface of the cushion, whereby a person laid thereon can get massaged.

However, the automatic massage air cushion of the prior art only provides a line-to line massage effect that cannot be exerted at a point of the person's body, largely restricting the massage effect. Further, those air columns 10, 11 are stuck together, and therefore none of them can be replaced once a leak occurs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an automatic massage air cushion capable of doing point-wise massage.

The secondary objective of the present invention is to provide an automatic massage air cushion wherein any of the gasbags can be replaced.

Accordingly, an automatic massage air cushion according to the present invention comprises a cover having a plurality of receptacle channels arranged in parallel for housing a set of first gasbags and a set of second gasbags, which first and second gasbags are alternatively arranged along each of the receptacle channels. The first gasbags are connected by a first air pipe system, and the second gasbags are connected by a second air pipe system. The first air pipe system is converged to an external first air inlet, and the second air pipe system is converged to an external second air inlet, both inlets being connected to an air pump.

The various objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a massage air cushion of the prior art.

FIG. 2 is a lateral cross-sectional view of the massage air cushion in FIG. 1, showing two sets of alternatively arranged air-filled columns with the odd rows shrunk and the even rows inflated.

FIG. 3 is a lateral cross-sectional view of the massage air cushion in FIG. 1, showing two sets of alternatively arranged air-filled columns with the even rows shrunk and the odd rows inflated.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of an automatic massage air cushion according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an automatic massage air cushion according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a lateral cross-sectional view from the side plate of the automatic massage air cushion in FIG. 5, showing shrunk gasbags A and inflated gasbags B.

FIG. 7 is the same lateral cross-sectional view from the side plate of the automatic massage air cushion in FIG. 5, showing inflated gasbags A and shrunk gasbags B.

FIG. 8 is another lateral cross-sectional view along a single receptacle channel of the automatic massage air cushion in FIG. 5, showing inflated gasbags A and shrunk gasbags B.

FIG. 9 is the same lateral cross-sectional view along a single receptacle channel of the automatic massage air cushion in FIG. 5, showing shrunk gasbags A and inflated gasbags B.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 4, an automatic massage air cushion according to the present invention comprises a cover 3, a set of A gasbags 4 and a set of B gasbags 5. The cover 3 contains a plurality of receptacle channels 31 arranged in parallel. The receptacle channels 31 are blocked by a side plate 32 at one end thereof. The A gasbags 4 and the B gasbags 5 are alternatively arranged along each of the receptacle channels 31. The A gasbags 4 are connected by a first air pipe 40, and the B gasbags 5 are connected by a second air pipe 50 that is independent of the first air pipe 40. The first air pipe 40 is converged to a first air inlet 41, and the second air pipe 50 is converged to a second air inlet 51, both air inlets being connected to an air pump. Further, an inner wall of the side plate 32 and a bottom wall of the cover 3 are respectively provided with retaining members 34, 35 for securing the side plate 32 to the bottom wall of the cover 3.

Referring to FIGS. 4 to 8, the assembly of the automatic massage air cushion starts with aligning a plurality of A gasbags 4 and B gasbags 5 in an interlaced fashion, which are then inserted into one of the receptacle channels 31 within the cover 3. The air inlets 41 and 51 are then connected to an air pump. The retaining member 34 of the side plate 32 is then coupled with the retaining member 35 of the cover 3. The side plate 32 is then mounted along one side of the cover 3, thereby A gasbags 4 and B gasbags 5 are secured within each of the receptacle channels 31. The automatic massage air cushion is then placed on a mattress 2.

As shown in FIG. 6 to 9, to use the automatic massage air cushion, the air pump is started so as to inject gas into A gasbags 4 and B gasbags 5 situating in the receptacle channels 31 through air inlets 41, 51. The air pump firstly injects air into air pipe 40 so as to inflate A gasbags 4, whereas B gasbags 5 are kept flat. The pump then injects air into air pipe 50 through air inlet 51 so as to inflate B gasbags 5, whereas A gasbags 4 are urged to release air and become flat simultaneously. Alternative inflating two sets of A gasbags 4 and B gasbags 5 results in a periodic and alternative up and down motion along each of the receptacle channels 31. As a consequence, the top surface of the cushion is brought into a complex, point-by-point fluctuating motion, whereby a person laid thereon can get massaged. Since the massage is applied in a point-wise fashion, the effects for enhancing blood circulation and releasing muscle stress is better than what can be achieved by a conventional line-to-line automatic massage air cushion. By the same token, the ventilating effect of the automatic massage air cushion is also enhanced, preventing a patient laid thereon from bedsore.

Further, since A gasbags 4 and B gasbags 5 in each of receptacle channels 31 are placed in an interlaced fashion, any of gasbags 4, 5 can be removed from the array and replaced. To do the replacement, the side plate 32 is dismounted, and a row of gasbags 4, 5 is drawn out. After the replacement, the row is inserted into the same receptacle channel 31, and side plate 32 is mounted again. The whole process is easy and quick.

In summary, the present invention has the following advantages:

1. The massage effect is point-by-point, which is more powerful.

2. The ventilating effect due to more complex, point-by-point fluctuations can prevent a patient laid thereon for an extended time from bedsore.

3. Any of the gasbags can be replaced, which largely cuts down the maintenance cost.

4. The replacement of a bad gasbag is simple and quick.

The present invention is thus described, and it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the present invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An automatic massage air cushion, comprising: a cover wherein a plurality of receptacle channels are disposed in parallel, said receptacle channels being blocked by a side plate at one end thereof; a set of first gasbags; and, a set of second gasbags; said first gasbags and said second gasbags being alternatively arranged along each of said receptacle channels, said first gasbags being connected by a first air pipe system and said second gasbags being connected by a second air pipe system independent of said first air pipe system, said first air pipe system being converged to a first air inlet and said second air pipe system being converged to a second air inlet, said first air inlet and said second air inlet being connected to an air pump.
 2. The automatic massage air cushion of claim 1 wherein an inner wall of said side plate and a bottom wall of said cover are respectively provided with retaining members for securing said side plate to said bottom wall of said cover. 